Windsor Square Named Best Neighborhood in Phoenix

Money magazine claims Phoenix's Windsor Square is one of the "best big-city neighborhoods" in the United States.

The mag picked one neighborhood from each of the biggest cities in the nation, so Windsor Square -- which essentially runs from Central Avenue to Seventh Street, between Camelback Road and Missouri Avenue -- is Phoenix's representative.

"Reporters began by looking at walkability, green spaces, public transport, a variety of housing, a diverse group of neighbors, easy access to stores, eateries, culture -- and more," the section on methodology explains. "After narrowing the list, we crunched dozens of data points from NeighborhoodScout.com to see which 'hoods rose to the top, and then visited to find our top 10 here."

Windsor Square, a 260-home historic neighborhood that was founded in 1929, is a pretty safe choice, as it's one of the few neighborhoods in Phoenix people actually tour.

Here's the explanation from Money:

Pros: Charming mid-century cottages are a hallmark of this neighborhood -- in fact, Windsor Square hosts regular home tours to show them off.

But that's not all residents have to tout. The area has excellent schools, and Windsor Square's small size, array of shopping and amenities, and convenient Metro stop mean locals can often leave the car at home, an unusual option in Phoenix.

"Being able to walk to the explosion of new restaurants, the light rail, and a place to get my hair done is a great lifestyle," says 48-year-old attorney Susan Myers.

Cons: Many homes are on small lots and, for some, changes require approval from the city's historic preservation board.

We're not sure when Central High School qualified as "excellent," unless they were referring to private schools, which would include Brophy and Xavier college prep, which are right around the corner from the neighborhood.

Considering the current listings in the neighborhood, the median home-value estimate also seems a little low.

Click here to check out all of the "best big-city neighborhood" selections.